LA Hallucinations by Carly Rae Jepsen Lyrics Meaning – Diving into the Illusory Glitz of Hollywood
Lyrics
We were young freaks just fresh to L.A
Never cared about the fake kids
We would write and sing and wear whatever
But money makes your whole world spin
‘Til everything is dizzy and suddenly
Planes I’m hopping
Cards I’m dropping
No shop can fill me up
There’s a little black hole in my golden cup so
You pour and I’ll say stop
Planes I’m hopping
Cards I’m dropping
No shop can fill me up
There’s a little black hole in my golden cup so
You pour and I’ll say stop, stop
Take me into your arms again
Shake me from L.A. hallucinations
Haven’t seen the boy in ages
Used to stay up all night he and I
Filling up each of these pages
But the teeth come out when the camera flashes
We said we’d always be the same
But we lost each other in the game ’cause suddenly
Planes I’m hopping
Cards I’m dropping
No shop can fill me up
There’s a little black hole in my golden cup so
You pour and I’ll say stop
Planes I’m hopping
Cards I’m dropping
No shop can fill me up
There’s a little black hole in my golden cup so
You pour and I’ll say stop, stop
Take me into your arms again
And shake me from L.A. hallucinations
Buzzfeed buzzards and TMZ crows
What can I say that you don’t already know?
Buzzfeed buzzards and TMZ crows
If I just lie here then will you let me go?
Planes I’m hopping
Cards I’m dropping
No shop can fill me up
There’s a little black hole in my golden cup so
You pour and I’ll say stop
Planes I’m hopping
Cards I’m dropping
No shop can fill me up
There’s a little black hole in my golden cup so
You pour and I’ll say stop, stop
Take me into your arms again
And shake me from L.A. hallucinations
Take me into your arms again
And shake me from L.A. hallucinations
Take me into your arms again
And shake me from L.A. hallucinations
The dizzying whirl of newfound fame and the Los Angeles skyline often blend into a kaleidoscope of fantasies and realities for many artists. Carly Rae Jepsen’s ‘LA Hallucinations’ serves as a conduit through which she conveys the disorienting and addictive nature of stardom. This track, a deep cut from her critically acclaimed album ‘Emotion,’ delves into the ephemeral nature of celebrity culture, touching on themes of nostalgia, friendship, and the soul-draining decadence that can accompany success.
Through the prismatic lens of ‘LA Hallucinations,’ Jepsen captures the complexity of emotions stemming from her encounters with the music industry’s tantalizing yet treacherous landscape. Here, we dissect the artistry behind the lyrics, sifting through the facades to grasp the raw truth that lies at the core of Jepsen’s experience with sudden fame in City of Angels.
Naked Ambition: The Honest Origins
The song opens with a reflective recollection of Jepsen’s early days in Los Angeles. Her vivid imagery of being ‘naked’ symbolizes not just physical bareness but also the raw vulnerability of being an unknown artist in a sprawling metropolis. The ‘young freaks’ she refers to were unadulterated by the ‘fake kids’ and commercial pressures, driven solely by passion and unfiltered creative expression. This sets the stage for an exploration of the shift from innocence to experience.
‘We would write and sing and wear whatever’ expresses a freedom unconstrained by the expectations of the industry. However, this carefree spirit is challenged as she hints at how ‘money makes your whole world spin,’ alluding to the moment authenticity starts to buckle under the weight of financial pressures and the desire for success.
Dizzying Descent: The Irresistible Pull of Fame
The chorus of ‘LA Hallucinations’ echoes the cyclical, almost Sisyphean journey that the music industry often entails. With her evocative lyrics, ‘Planes I’m hopping, Cards I’m dropping,’ Jepsen describes the frantic pace of life on the road and the hollowness of consumerism. Despite the glitz and the glamour, she acknowledges an unfillable void, represented by ‘a little black hole in my golden cup,’ reiterating that the trappings of fame can’t satisfy her deeper longings.
The insatiability of her new lifestyle is punctuated by the phrase ‘You pour and I’ll say stop,’ depicting the artist’s struggle for control amidst the abundance. It speaks to the human condition of always wanting more, even when it ceases to bring joy or fulfillment.
The Haunting Past: Friendship and Loss in the Limelight
‘Haven’t seen the boy in ages’ transports listeners to Jepsen’s past relationships, evoking nostalgia for the raw and genuine connections that now seem distant with success. This boy, possibly a metaphor for an uncorrupted past or an old friend, is someone she shared her creative journey with, ‘filling up each of these pages.’ The intensity of shared dreams contrasts sharply with the isolation of the current limelight.
Jepsen poignantly addresses the transformation that occurs when friends or collaborators get divided by fame. ‘We said we’d always be the same, But we lost each other in the game,’ she confesses, summarizing the bittersweet evolution of personal bonds as spotlights and superficiality overshadow what was once simple and sincere.
Culture Vultures: Lamenting the Media’s Distortion
With a biting nod to modern-day media outlets, ‘Buzzfeed buzzards and TMZ crows’ uses vivid avian imagery to suggest the predatory nature of gossip columns and news cycles that feast on celebrity misfortune. Carly Rae Jepsen satirizes the hyper-scrutiny of public figures, capturing the feeling of being picked apart by relentless coverage.
The rhetorical question ‘What can I say that you don’t already know?’ underscores the sense of exposure and the loss of privacy — Jepsen is all too aware that her life is an open book for public consumption. There is resignation in ‘If I just lie here then will you let me go?’ exposing the struggle to maintain a sense of self in the face of constant media buzz and public judgment.
Shaking Off the Illusion: A Call for Respite
As the song nears its conclusion, Jepsen’s yearning for human connection resurfaces with ‘Take me into your arms again, And shake me from L.A. hallucinations.’ This hook serves as both a call for grounding and a plea for escape from the disorienting hallucinations that L.A. represents — a return to the real, the tangible, the affection and closeness that fame often obscures.
It’s a powerful acknowledgment that what ultimately brings comfort isn’t found in the ephemeral—in plane rides, in shopping, in golden cups—but in genuine human connection. This line captures the core message of the song: a desire to be anchored in a reality that’s been distorted by the bright lights and carnival funhouse mirrors of Los Angeles.
